Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-10-07
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.


perience has abundantly shown that
mulching the ground not only adds to its
fertility by the decay Of the mulch itself
but il also contains a large amount of
ammonia from the air. All have OBJ
served that soil covered with mulch
keeps more porous and friable than
when left exposed to the sun and dry
ing winds. Earthworms contribute to-
ward fertility by their holes, through
which the air easily penetrates, impart-
ing fertility, which the soil absorbs. A
piece of ground, part of which had
been in strawberries and mulched with
salt hay for three years, showed great
advantage from the mulch. When
plowed this mulch part broke up very
finely, while the other part was very
lumpy. 1t was AL planted with corn
the same day, which came up in five
days on the mulched portion, and was
about two weeks coming up OIL the rest,
and much of it failed TO come at all. The
after culture was alike, yet there was
much more vigorous growth on the
part which had been mulched. Soils
not only have the power of absorbing
ammonia from the air but also from
water that holds it in solution. By re-
tanning the water so enriched mulch
adds to the fertility of the soil. Besides
the advantage already mentioned, it is
an easy way to keep clear of weeds.
The hay from salt marshes is excellent
for this purpose, but where il is eXpen-
sive or inconvcnient TO procure, other
material will be found serviceable.
How To HAVE HEALTHY STABLE
The requisites of stable are manifold.
Health and comfort must be secured, if
rest is to be had for its inmates, and no
domestic animal can thrive without
restfu feeling. The city stable too fire.
quently is a torture chamber, full OF
pestilentisl, narrow cells; the average
country stable is barn, where the farm
animals contend for shelter with farm
implements, and where poultry not un-
frequently resort. These extremes of
misery are modified. and comfortable
stabling can be found; also are there
some veritable palaces for favorite
studs. With such we tamper not y
good horse is worthy of the best that
man can bestow upon him.
When a horse gets back TO his stable,
after his days work is over, he requires,
to keep him in health and full efficiency,
home feeling that comes Of absolute
rest. To secure this, he must have q
dry, clean bed, in roomy box, which
must be well ventilated, and free from
the annoyance of insects. The box
must be cool In summer, aud warm, but
not hot, in winter. The farmer of mod
crate means feels that to erect new
stabling is out of his power. What
then? Why look about and see if by
storing things more closely, and with
more attention to tidiness, tine horses
cannot have more space, be more apart,
and thus enjoy better rest. If new
stable can be built, much has to be con-
sidered before beginning the work
cost, though serious question, is not
the most important. Location and ven.
tlation, with perfect drainage and no
crowding, are the requisites; design
and interior subdivision follow, as mat
Of I'm A 81
APPLE CUsTARD.-Three cups sweet
milk, three cups apple, grated or stew
ed; three tablespoonfuls sugar, two
eggs, yOlks and whites separate; one
teaspoonful white flour. Prepare the
apple by stewing in as little water as
will cook them; then mash fine and
smooth; they must not be very tart.
Beat the yolks and sugar together, and
whip them into the apples; then stir in
the flour and add the milk. Stir in also
the whites well beaten and pour the
custard into pie pans lined with cream
paste. Bake till the custard is set.
CREAM CRULLERs.-Take one cupful
of sugar and mix with tia dessert spoon
full of butter; next thoroughly beat two
eggs and mix them with the sugar and
butter, adding a little salt and nutmeg
and one cup of cream. Then add flour
enough, in which are three teaspoonfuls
of baking powder, to mix a very soft
dough. Form in any shape desired and
fry in boiling lard.
BAKED ONIONs.-Boil ia sailed water
One-half hour. Lift out in n drain
spoon carefully and lay them closely to-
gether in baking-pan; salt and pepper,
also IA Tablespoonful of butter should
be put on each onion; bake in hot
oven half an hour when they should be
both tender and Drowned; take out
without crushing and serve hot.
SUET PUDDING. Three cups of flour,
one of raisins, stoned, one-half cup suet,
chopped fine, one-half cup molasses.
one.half cup sugar, one-half cup of
milk, two teaspoons cinnamon, one OF
cream of tartar, one-half teaspoon soda;
boil one hour and a half.
MUFFINs-FLoUR.-Wa one quart
Of new milk; while warm, add to it
piece Of butter the size of hen egg;
beat four eggs till light, and add them
to the milk, and one tablespoonful of
salt, and one cup of fresh yeast, and
flour enough to drop from the spoon;
let rise six hours; grease the rings till
half full, and bake twenty minutes.